2,000 and dropping: Leadbeater's possum habitat at risk due to 16-hectare logging project near Warburton

Sixteen hectares of Mountain Ash trees could soon be logged near Warburton, in Melbourne’s outer east, in a move that environmental activists say could remove the precious habitat of a number of endangered species.

In May, the Yarra Ranges Council approved new logging plans at a property on Blacksands Road in Three Bridges, near Warburton.

The approval prompted local environmental group Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH) to – via lawyers at Environmental Justice Australia – launch a legal challenge to the decision in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

How will this impact local flora and fauna?

According to the Federal Government’s National Recovery Plan for the Leadbeater’s possum, “all current and prospective suitable habitat is critical for its survival, and necessary for its recovery”.

WOTCH volunteer Steve Meacher told the Eastern Melburnian that, with only about 2,000 Leadbeater’s possums across Victoria, every tree was a precious asset for the local populations.

“It’s an animal that is of cultural significance,” he said.

“The wildlife that's in question wouldn't have any idea whether the land is private or public, it's just, to them, habitat.”

Meacher said the group hoped the VCAT effort would set a precedent that old permits would no longer be considered as valid and instead be seen to be expired.

“ In 1977, the presence of those threatened species probably wouldn't have been recognised,” he said.

“Leadbeater's possum, for instance, had been thought to be extinct until 1961.

“In approving the current plans to log on that property, the Shire of Yarra Ranges has not properly fulfilled its obligations to consider the threatened species in that area.”

What legal precedent would this set?

On January 1, 2024, the Victorian Government officially ended native forest logging, fulfilling a commitment former Premier Daniel Andrews made in May 2023.

However, this action has no effect on private operators seeking to log on private land.

Environment Justice Australia (EJA) senior lawyer Natalie Hogan said the use of an old permit allowed potentially harmful plans to be approved without the proper scrutiny given to the possible impacts on biosecurity.

“[Councils are] not required to provide any reasoning,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

“It’s about accountability and proper decision making, so ensuring governments are following their own laws and complying with biodiversity laws.

“The public expects consistency and integrity in how environmental laws are applied — regardless of whether land is public or private.”

Why did Yarra Ranges Council approve the plans?

There are two privately owned properties in Three Bridges within the Yarra Ranges municipality. They both maintain the legal right to harvest native timber, subject to the council approving their Timber Harvesting Plans.

A spokesperson for Yarra Ranges Council said the owner was required to obtain approval for a new Timber Harvesting Plan every three years.

“This plan is prepared for the owner by a qualified independent forester, which is then reviewed by a second independent forester on behalf of council,” the spokesperson said.

“The requirements of the agreements and the plans are extensive to ensure any protected flora and fauna on the site is not harmed during the activities.”

The spokesperson said while the updated Timber Harvesting Plan incorporated considerations of flora and fauna, the council did not have authority to consider the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act in its decision making.

What’s next?

Meacher said WOTCH and EJA were working towards building up a strong collection of evidence to prove their case, with the main hearing set for October.

Image Credit: Environmental Justice Australia/John Englart